Connecting device and assembly apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

The present connecting device comprises a screw bolt with a hollow portion and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion. The present assembly apparatus comprises at least one body including a plurality of screw openings and at least one connecting device including at least one screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening. In addition, the body and the connecting device can optionally comprise a conductive portion, a light-emitting layer positioned on the conductive portion, and a passivation layer position on the light-emitting layer so as to form a light-emitting structure. Preferably, the conductive portion is made of silver, the light-emitting layer is made of an electroluminescent material such zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(A) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connecting device and an assembly apparatus using the same, and more particularly, to a connecting device capable of preventing disengagement due to abrasion and an assembly apparatus using the same.

(B) Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an assembly component 10 according to the prior art. The assembly component 10 includes a bolt 12 and a sphere 20. The bolt 12 has an annular protrusion 14 at the end, and the size of the annular protrusion 14 is greater than that of the middle part 16 of the bolt 12. The spherical body 20 includes several openings 22 and an annular cove 24 in each opening 22. When assembling the bolt 12 and the spherical body 20, a user must apply force to squeeze the annular protrusion 14 of the bolt 12 into the annular cove 24 of the spherical body 20. Conversely, when disassembling the assembly component 10, the user must apply force to pull the annular protrusion 14 of the bolt 12 out from the annular cove 24 of the spherical body 20. Since one bolt 12 can connect two spherical bodies 20 and there are several openings 22 on one spherical body 20 to receive several bolts 12, engaging the annular protrusion 14 of the bolt 12 with the annular cove 24 of the spherical body 20 can constitute a variety of assembly components such as a molecular model.

The assembly component 10 is connected by the interference between the annular protrusion 14 and the annular cove 24, and therefore the relative size of the annular protrusion 14 and the annular cove 24 must be precisely controlled. Otherwise, the annular protrusion 14 cannot be squeezed into the opening 22, i.e., the annular protrusion 14 is too large, or the annular protrusion 14 cannot form a firm interference with the annular cove 24, i.e., the annular protrusion 14 is too small. In addition, after assembly and disassembly of the bolt 12 and the spherical body 20 has occurred a number of times, the annular protrusion 14 is likely to decrease in size due to abrasion, while the annular cove 24 is likely to broaden due to abrasion. As a result, the connection between the bolt 12 and the spherical body 20 tends to become loose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a connecting device capable of preventing disengagement due to abrasion and an assembly apparatus using the same. The connecting device comprises a screw bolt with a hollow portion and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion. The present assembly apparatus comprises at least one body including a plurality of screw openings and at least one connecting device including a screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening.

Preferably, the body and the connecting device are made of plastic or metal. In addition, the body and the connecting device can optionally comprise a conductive portion, a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion, and a passivation layer position on the surface of the light-emitting layer so as to form a light-emitting structure. Preferably, the conductive portion is made of silver, the light-emitting layer is made of an electroluminescent material such as zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.

Compared to the prior art, the body and the connecting device of the present assembly apparatus is connected by the engagement between the screw bolt and the screw opening to prevent the disengagement due to the abrasion of assembling and disassembling. In addition, the present assembly apparatus can optionally include the conductive portion, the light-emitting layer and the passivation layer to possess light-emitting ability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an assembly component according to the prior art;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a connecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a connecting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a connecting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an assembly apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7(a) and 7(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as molecular models according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as a toy according to the present invention;

FIG. 9(a) and 9(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as decorations according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10(a) and 10(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as an indication symbol or an advertisement symbol according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a connecting device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The connecting device 30 comprises two screw bolts 32 including a hollow portion 34 and a supporting member 36 movably positioned in the hollow portion 34, wherein the supporting member 36 includes a protrusion 38 at one end and the size of the protrusion 38 is larger than the size of the hollow portion 34. The method for preparing the connecting device 30 includes first placing the supporting member 36 in the hollow portion 34 of the screw bolt 32, then performing a thermal treating process to soften the end of the supporting member 36, and applying a certain force to the end inwardly to form the protrusion 38. The protrusion 38 can prevent the screw bolt 32 from disengaging out of the supporting member 36, while the screw bolt 32 is allowed to move between the two protrusions 38, as shown in FIG. 2(b). Preferably, the screw bolt 32 and the supporting member 36 are made of plastic or metal.

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly apparatus 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The assembly apparatus 40 comprises a spherical body 50 including a plurality of screw openings 52 and a connecting device 30 including a screw bolt 32 capable of engaging with the screw opening 52. The number and position of the screw opening 52 in the spherical body 50 can be designed based on the desired model or application. Preferably, the connecting device 30 and the spherical body 50 are made of metal or plastic. The assembly apparatus 40 is built by engaging the screw bolt 32 with the screw opening 52 to connect the connecting device 30 and the spherical body 50. Since the connecting device 30 possesses two screw bolts 32 capable of moving on the supporting member 36, engaging the left screw bolt 32 into a screw opening 52 in the left spherical body 50 does not simultaneously drive the supporting member 36, and the screw bolt 32 and the spherical body 50 at the right side stay at its position. In other words, the engagement between the left screw bolt 32 and the screw opening 52 in the left spherical body 50 is independent of that between the right screw bolt 32 and the screw opening 52 in the right spherical body 50 since the supporting member 36 is positioned in the hollow position 34 of the screw bolt 32.

FIG. 4 illustrates a connecting device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The supporting member 102 of the connecting device 100 comprises three branches 104 separated by 120 degrees, and each branch 104 includes a protrusion 106 at the end and supports one screw bolt 32. Compared to the connecting device 30 in FIG. 2, which can connect only two spherical bodies 50, the connecting device 100 in FIG. 4 can connect three spherical bodies 50 by the three screw bolts 32 on the three branches 104. Particularly, the connecting device 30 in FIG. 2 can be regarded as including two branches separated by 180 degrees.

FIG. 5 illustrates a connecting device 110 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Compared to the connecting device 30 in FIG. 2 and the connecting device 100 in FIG. 4, which possess several branches on the same plane, the supporting member 112 of the connecting device 110 in FIG. 5 includes four branches 114 separated by 109.5 degrees in three-dimensional space. The connecting device 30 in FIG. 2 can only connect two spherical bodies 50, but the connecting device 110 in FIG. 5 can connect four spherical bodies 50 by four screw bolts 32 on four branches 114.

FIG. 6 illustrates an assembly apparatus 90 including a connecting device 60 and two spherical bodies 80 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The connecting device 60 comprises a supporting member 70 and two screw bolts 32, wherein the supporting member 70 includes a conductive portion 72, a light-emitting layer 74 positioned on the surface of the conductive portion 72, and a passivation layer 76 positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer 74. Preferably, the conductive portion 72 is made of silver, the light-emitting layer 74 is made of an electroluminescent material such as zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer 76 is made of polycarbonate. Similarly, the connecting device 100 in FIG. 4 and the connecting device 110 in FIG. 5 can optionally include the above-mentioned conductive portion, light-emitting layer and passivation layer.

The spherical body 80 comprises a conductive portion 82, a light-emitting layer 84 positioned on the surface of the conductive portion 82, a passivation layer 86 positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer 84, and a plurality of screw openings 58. If a different shape is desired, the spherical body 80 can be made in cylindrical, cubic, or polyhedral shapes. Preferably, the conductive portion 82 is made of silver, the light-emitting layer 84 is made of an electroluminescent material such as zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer 86 is made of polycarbonate. The assembly apparatus 90 is built by engaging the screw bolt 32 with the screw opening 52 to connect the connecting device 60 and the spherical body 80. The assembly apparatus 90 can emit electroluminescence by applying current to the conductive portion 70 of the connecting device 60.

FIG. 7(a) and 7(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as a molecular model according to the present invention. A water molecular (H₂ 0) model 120 is built by engaging two connecting device 124 with one spherical body 122 including two openings and with two spherical bodies 126 including one opening. Similarly, a methane molecular (CH₄) model 130 is built by engaging four connecting device 134 with one spherical body 132 including four openings and with four spherical bodies 126 including one opening. Similarly, a variety of molecular models can be built by engaging the connecting device representing the bonding and the body representing the atom.

FIG. 8 illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as a toy according to the present invention. A Doberman dog 140 is built by engaging two connecting devices 142 with three cylindrical bodies 144 to form the dog body, engaging four connecting devices 146 with four spherical bodies 148 and the cylindrical body 144 to form limbs, engaging a connecting device 152 with a spherical body 150 and the cylindrical body 144 to form the head, and engaging a connecting device 154 with a spherical body 156 and the cylindrical body 144 to form the tail. Similarly, a variety of toys can be built by engaging the connecting device with different length and the body with different shape.

FIG. 9(a) and 9(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as a decoration according to the present invention. A cylindrical body 162 is used as a base, and several connecting devices 164, 166 and 168 with different colors are used to engage several spherical bodies 170 with different openings to build a tree decoration 160, as shown in FIG. 9(a). In addition, a cylindrical body 172 including a light-emitting layer is used as a base connected to a commercial power supply via a plug 188, and several connecting devices 174, 176, 178 and 180 capable of emitting different colors are used to engage several spherical bodies 182 and 184 capable of emitting different colors to build an illuminating tree decoration 190, as shown in FIG. 9(b). Similarly, a variety of illuminating decorations can be built by engaging the connecting device capable of emitting different color and the body capable of emitting different color.

FIG. 10(a) and 10(b) illustrates one application of the assembly apparatus as an indication symbol 200 or an advertisement symbol 230 according to the present invention. A cylindrical body 202 including a light-emitting layer is used as a base connected to a commercial power supply via a plug 224, and several connecting devices 204, 206, 208, 210 and 212 capable of emitting different color are used to engage with several spherical bodies 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222 capable of emitting different color to build the indication symbol 200, as shown in FIG. 10 (a). Further, a cylindrical body 232 including a light-emitting layer is used as a base connected to a commercial power supply via a plug 244, and several connecting devices 234 and 236 capable of emitting different color are used to engage with several rectangular bodies 238, 240 and 242 capable of emitting different color to build the advertisement symbol 230, as shown in FIG. 10 (b). In short, a variety of indication symbols or advertisement symbols can be built by assembling the connecting device and the body including a light-emitting layer according to a predetermined structure.

Compared to the prior art, the body and the connecting device of the present assembly apparatus is connected by the engagement between the screw bolt and the screw opening to prevent the disengagement due to the abrasion of assembling and disassembling. In addition, the present assembly apparatus can optionally include the conductive portion, the light-emitting layer and the passivation layer to possess light-emitting ability.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

1. A connecting device, comprising: at least one screw bolt including a hollow portion; and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion.
 2. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is made of plastic or metal.
 3. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the supporting member comprises: a conductive portion; a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
 4. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
 5. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
 6. The connecting device of claim 5, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
 7. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
 8. An assembly apparatus, comprising: at least one body including a plurality of screw openings; and at least one connecting device including: at least one screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening; and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion.
 9. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the body comprises: a conductive portion; a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
 10. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
 11. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
 12. The assembly apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
 13. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
 14. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the supporting member comprises: a conductive portion; a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
 15. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
 16. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
 17. The assembly apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
 18. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
 19. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the body and the connecting device are made of plastic or metal.
 20. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a molecular model.
 21. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a toy.
 22. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a decoration.
 23. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an illumination apparatus.
 24. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an indication symbol.
 25. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an advertisement symbol. 